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Story: Ngāti Kahungunu

Saddlebacks, by John Gerrard Keulemans

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Saddlebacks, by John Gerrard Keulemans

Tīeke (saddlebacks) were a delicacy which Kahungunu caught for his wife, Ruareretai, when she was pregnant. When their daughter was born, she was named Ruahereheretīeke (saddlebacks taken in a bunch from their nest).

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PUBL-0012-03

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Mere Whaanga, Ngāti Kahungunu – Kahungunu the man, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/571/saddlebacks-by-john-gerrard-keulemans (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mere Whaanga, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 March 2017.